MIDDLE TENNESSEE S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y 2014–2015 SCHOLARSHIP GUIDE Table of Contents Scholarships for Incoming Freshmen Scholarships for Incoming Transfer Students Scholarships for Current MTSU Students Nontraditional Students and Veterans Other Scholarship Opportunities at MTSU Additional Information about MTSU Scholarships Things to Remember about MTSU Scholarships... Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship Program Private Scholarships FAFSA Information CONTENTS Retaining Eligibility for Scholarships ScholarX Scholarship Manager 1 Scholarships for Incoming Freshmen Priority Deadline: December 1 Chancellor Scholarship • $5,000 per year • 3.5 GPA and 32 ACT (or 1410 SAT) An incoming freshman is a student who has not attended college previously (except through a dual-enrollment arrangement while still in high school). If you graduate from high school in May and enroll at MTSU that summer or fall, you will be considered an incoming freshman for scholarship purposes. Students who wait for one or more semesters before enrolling may also qualify for incoming freshman scholarships. Presidential Scholarship • $4,000 per year • 3.5 GPA and 29 ACT (or 1280 SAT) Planning to enroll in spring 2015? See page 6 for information about scholarship opportunities. Provost Scholarship • $2,000 per year • 3.5 GPA and 26 ACT (or 1170 SAT) Academic Service Scholarship • $3,000 per year • 3.5 GPA and 27 ACT (or 1210 SAT) For more information, visit our Freshman Scholarships website at mtsu.edu/scholarships/freshman.php. Guaranteed Incoming Freshmen Academic Scholarships Students who plan to enroll at MTSU for the summer or fall term and are interested in the following scholarships must have the following materials on file in the Admissions Office by the stated deadline: • Admission application • Application fee • Official ACT and/or SAT test score • Official sixth-semester transcript Students should also submit the following documents to the Scholarship Office by February 15, if applicable: • International Baccalaureate Diploma Verification Form • National Merit, Achievement, or Hispanic Semifinalist Letter • Class rank (if ranked 1 or 2) For scholarships with December 1 deadlines (page 3), priority consideration will be given to students who have submitted the required information and meet the minimum academic requirements as of December 1, 2013. However, students who meet the qualifications between December 2, 2013, and February 15, 2014, may be considered if funding is available. For scholarships with February 15 deadlines (page 3), priority consideration will be given to students who have submitted the required information and meet the minimum academic requirements as of February 15, 2014. Grade point averages and test scores on file with the Admissions Office at the time of the scholarship review will be used to determine awards. Typically, the 6thsemester GPA and ACT/SAT scores (without writing subscores) through the December test date will be used for scholarship considerations. 2 (continued on page 4) Justin Hysler (transferred from Volunteer State Community College) Computer Information Systems Priority Deadline: February 15 National Merit/Achievement/Hispanic Scholarship • $6,000 per year • National Merit, Achievement, or Hispanic Semifinalist (based on PSAT scores) • Must submit National Merit/ Achievement/Hispanic Semifinalist Letter to Scholarship Office Valedictorian/Salutatorian • $3,000 per year • 23 ACT (or 1060 SAT), ranked 1 or 2 in high school class • Class rank must be submitted to Admissions Office International Baccalaureate • $1,000 per year • 3.5 GPA • Will graduate with an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma • IB Scholarship can be combined with any award except Buchanan Fellowship • Must submit IB Diploma Verification Form to Scholarship Office Be sure to check out the “Things to Remember about MTSU Scholarships” section on page 19! Future Students More than a year away from your start at MTSU? The information in this booklet is for students who plan to enroll during the 2014-2015 year. However, the scholarships and requirements generally stay the same or are similar from year to year. You can use this booklet to set academic goals in regard to ACT, SAT, and GPA and to learn about scholarships for which you should apply during your last year of high school. Be sure to visit our website (www.mtsu.edu/scholarships) no later than September 1 of your senior year to view the updated scholarship information for your year! 3 (continued from page 2) Competitive Scholarships at MTSU The following scholarships require an application or other paperwork. Only one scholarship awarded by or funded through the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office can be received; students selected for multiple scholarships from the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office (including the Buchanan Fellowship) will be awarded the higher of the two. Students may receive a scholarship from the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office in addition to a scholarship from another MTSU department, in most cases. Most competitive scholarships are available only to students who will first enroll for the summer or fall semester. Buchanan Fellowship This is the highest award given to an entering student in the University Honors College. A minimum ACT score of 29 (or SAT of 1280)* and a minimum 3.5 GPA is required for consideration. Buchanan Fellows will receive (1) an amount equal to 16 hours of in- or out-of-state tuition and fees, (2) a $1,000 book allowance, and (3) consideration for study abroad scholarships. Up to 20 fellowships may be awarded per year. For more information and an application, please visit www.mtsu.edu/ honors/scholarships.php. *Generally, only ACT/SAT scores (without writing subscores) through the October 2013 test date are considered. 4 DREAM Scholarship The Diverse Representation and Educational Access at MTSU (DREAM) Scholarship is available to incoming freshmen who have an EFC of 12,000 or less on the 2014–15 FAFSA, meet diversity requirements (page 18), and qualify for a Hope Scholarship through the Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship program (page 21). An online Consolidated Scholarship Application must be submitted by February 15, 2014, and a FAFSA must be submitted at www.fafsa.gov by March 1. Recipients will receive funding equal to 15 hours of tuition plus $500 per semester through a combination of Lottery Scholarship and DREAM Scholarship funds. For more information and to apply, visit www.mtsu.edu/scholarships/dream_ scholarships.php. Foundation Scholarships See page 17 for information about Foundation Scholarships at MTSU. All freshmen are encouraged to apply for Foundation Scholarships awarded by the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office with our online Consolidated Scholarship Application. In particular, incoming freshmen may wish to apply for the SouthEast Bank and Centennial Scholarships. For more information about these and other Foundation Scholarships, visit www.mtsu.edu/scholarships/foundation_ scholarships.php. Other Scholarship Opportunities • See page 17 for information about departmental scholarships. • See page 23 for information about private scholarships. • See page 21 for information about lottery scholarships. Be sure to check out the “Things to Remember about MTSU Scholarships” section on page 19! (continued on page 6) Freshman Scholarship Checklist þ Freshman and Sophomore High School Years o Focus on earning high grades and preparing for the ACT and SAT. A great start will help you reach your academic goals and qualify for more scholarships! o Build your scholarship résumé. Keep good notes on your leadership roles and community involvement so that you can brag about yourself on your scholarship applications! Junior Year All Year o Continue to focus on your grades. Many scholarships will consider your GPA only through the end of your junior year. Fall o Start searching and applying for private scholarship opportunities (page 23). Spring o Take the ACT and SAT each at least once to get the score you need for scholarships. Most students score higher on one test than on the other, so it’s best to try both. Senior Year All Year o Continue to focus on your grades. The Lottery Scholarship and some private scholarships will consider your GPA through the end of your senior year. Fall o Continue to search for and apply for private scholarships (page 23). o Take the ACT and/or SAT one more time if needed to qualify for scholarships. o December 1: Priority deadline to qualify for MTSU academic scholarships (page 2). o December 1: Deadline to submit a Buchanan Fellowship application to the Honors College (page 4). o December 1: Find a College Goal Sunday location near you, and register to attend (page 24). o December 15: The Consolidated Scholarship Application is available; all freshmen are encouraged to apply (page 27). Spring o January 1: File a FAFSA at www.fafsa. gov (page 24). File in early January to qualify for need-based aid or by March 1 if you do not expect to receive need-based aid. o February 15: Deadline to submit a Consolidated Scholarship Application, to be considered for DREAM and other scholarships (page 4). o February 15: Deadline for most Foundation Scholarships and scholarships awarded through other MTSU departments. o February 15: Deadline for class rank, International Baccalaureate Diploma Verification Form, and National Merit/ Achievement/Hispanic Semifinalist Letter to be submitted. Brandon Ladd Biochemistry 5 (continued from page 4) Scholarships for Spring-Start Freshmen While competitive scholarships are not available to incoming freshmen first enrolling in the spring, we may be able to offer academic scholarships (page 3) to first-time freshmen who first enroll in the spring and meet minimum academic requirements, if additional scholarship funding is available for the academic year. Students who plan to enroll at MTSU for the spring 2015 semester and are interested in the following scholarships must have the following materials on file in the Admissions Office by October 1: • Admission application • Application fee • Official ACT and/or SAT test score • Official sixth-semester transcript • Class rank (if ranked 1 or 2) Students should also submit the following documents to the Scholarship Office, if applicable: • International Baccalaureate Diploma Verification Form • National Merit, Achievement, or Hispanic Semifinalist Letter Priority consideration will be given to students who have submitted the above information and meet the minimum academic requirements as of October 1, 2014. ACT/SAT scores (without writing subscores) received by October 31 will be used for scholarship considerations. Please note that all scholarships depend on available funding and are not guaranteed. Be sure to check out the “Things to Remember about MTSU Scholarships” section on page 19! 6 Spring-Start Scholarship Checklist þ The information below assumes that you will enroll at MTSU after the fall semester of your senior year. If your situation is different, you may need to adjust your timeline as appropriate. Freshman and Sophomore Years o Focus on earning high grades and preparing for the ACT and SAT. A great start will help you reach your academic goals and qualify for more scholarships! o Build your scholarship résumé. Keep good notes on your leadership roles and community involvement so that you can brag about yourself on your scholarship applications! Kayla Dickerson (Murfreesboro) Organizational Communication Junior Year All Year o Continue to focus on your grades. Many scholarships will consider your GPA only through the end of your junior year. Fall o Start searching and applying for private scholarship opportunities (page 23). Spring o Take the ACT and SAT each at least once to get the score you need for scholarships. Most students score higher on one test than on the other, so it’s best to try both. Senior Year Fall o Continue to search for and apply for private scholarships (page 23). o September: Take the ACT and/or SAT one more time if needed to qualify for scholarships. o October 1: Priority deadline to qualify for MTSU academic scholarships (page 6). o October 1: Deadline for class rank, International Baccalaureate Diploma Verification Form, and National Merit/Achievement/Hispanic Semifinalist Letter to be submitted. o October 1: File a FAFSA at www. fafsa.gov (page 24). Remember that you’ll need to file again this January for the next academic year. o October 31: Deadline for ACT and SAT scores to be on file for scholarship considerations. o December 15: The Consolidated Scholarship Application for 2015–16 is available; all spring-start freshmen are encouraged to apply (page 27). Remember to file a 2015-16 FAFSA in early January (page 24). 7 Scholarships for Incoming Transfer Students An incoming transfer is a student who has not attended MTSU previously (except through a dual-enrollment arrangement while still in high school). If you first enroll for the summer 2014 or fall 2014 term, you will be considered an incoming transfer for scholarship purposes. Planning to enroll in spring 2015? See page 11 for information about scholarship opportunities. For more information, visit our Transfer Scholarships website at mtsu.edu/scholarships/transfer.php. Academic Scholarships Students who plan to transfer to MTSU for the summer or fall term and are interested in the following scholarships must have the following materials on file in the Admissions Office by the stated deadline: • Admission application • Application fee • Official transcript (through the fall 2013 semester) • Official high school transcript Some scholarships require a separate scholarship application. Priority consideration will be given to students who have submitted the above information and meet the minimum academic requirements as of February 15, 2014. Late applicants may be considered if funding is available. However, transfer scholarships are typically very competitive, and funding for late awards is generally not available. TBR Community College Academic Service Scholarship • Students transferring from and currently enrolled at a Tennessee community college • 45 awards of $3,000 per year • 3.0 GPA and 45–105 earned hours after fall 2013 • No scholarship application required 8 Non-TBR Academic Service Scholarship • Students transferring from a school other than a Tennessee community college • 15 awards of $3,000 per year • 3.5 GPA and 45–105 earned hours after fall 2013 • No scholarship application required Raider Scholarship • 70 awards of $1,000 for one year • 3.0 GPA and 45–105 earned hours after fall 2013 • No scholarship application required • No service requirement 2+2 Scholarship • 15 awards of $1,500 per year • 3.0 GPA and 45–105 earned hours after fall 2013 • 3rd- or 4th-year participant in 2+2 program at Columbia or Motlow State • No service requirement • Application: Consolidated Application (page 27) Be sure to check out the “Things to Remember about MTSU Scholarships” section on page 19! Competitive Transfer Scholarships at MTSU The following scholarships require an application or other paperwork. Only one scholarship awarded by or funded through the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office can be received; students selected for multiple scholarships from the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office (including the Honors Transfer Fellowship) will be awarded the higher of the two. Students may receive a scholarship from the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office in addition to a scholarship from another MTSU department, in most cases. Most competitive scholarships are available only to students who will first enroll for the summer or fall semester. Honors Transfer Fellowship This is the highest award given to a transfer student in the University Honors College. A minimum of 60 earned hours with a GPA of at least 3.5 is required for consideration. Honors Transfer Fellows will receive $7,000 per year for 2 years; a limited number of recipients incurring out-of-state tuition costs may receive $14,000 per year. Up to 15 fellowships may be awarded per year. For more information and an application, please visit www.mtsu.edu/honors/ scholarships.php. Transfer Diversity Scholarship The Transfer Diversity Scholarship is awarded to incoming transfer students who have an EFC of 12,000 or less on the 2014–15 FAFSA (page 24), meet diversity requirements (page 18), and have a GPA of at least 2.5 and 45–105 earned hours at the time of scholarship considerations. An online Consolidated Scholarship Application (see page 27) must be submitted by February 15, 2014, and a FAFSA must be submitted at www.fafsa.gov by March 1. Recipients will receive $4,000 per year for 2 years. For more information and to apply, visit www.mtsu.edu/scholarships/ transfersother_scholarships.php. Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship The Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship is awarded to current members of Phi Theta Kappa, a community college honors organization. Priority is given to students selected for the All-Tennessee Academic Team in February 2014. An online Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship Application must be submitted by March 1, 2014. Recipients will receive $4,000 per year for 2 years. For more information, contact the Admissions Office at (615) 898-2111. The online application is available at www.mtsu.edu/scholarships/ transfersother_scholarships.php. Foundation Scholarships See page 17 for information about Foundation Scholarships at MTSU. All transfers are encouraged to apply for Foundation Scholarships awarded by the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office with our online Consolidated Scholarship Application. Transfer students are also encouraged to contact their academic departments for information about scholarships available for specific majors. For more information about these and other Foundation Scholarships, visit www.mtsu.edu/scholarships/foundation_ scholarships.php. Other Scholarship Opportunities • See page 18 for information about departmental scholarships. • See page 23 for information about private scholarships. • See page 21 for information about lottery scholarships. (continued on page 11) 9 (continued from page 9) Transfer Scholarship Checklist þ While most scholarships are not available to incoming transfers who first enroll in the spring semester, we are able to offer a limited number of Transfer Academic Service Scholarships. Students who plan to transfer to MTSU for the spring 2015 semester and are interested in the following scholarships must have the following materials on file in the Admissions Office by October 1: • Admission application • Application fee • Official transcript (through the spring 2014 semester) • Official high school transcript Freshman Year (or two years before transferring to MTSU) If you plan to complete a two-year degree and transfer to MTSU, do the following during your first year of college: All Year o Focus on earning high grades. A great start will help you reach your academic goals and qualify for more scholarships! o Take an average of 15 hours per semester. To qualify for most transfer scholarships, you will need at least 45 earned hours after the fall semester of your second year. Spring o Start searching and applying for private scholarship opportunities (page 23). Sophomore Year (or one year before transferring to MTSU) All Year o Continue to focus on your grades. Many scholarships will consider your GPA only through the fall semester of this year. Fall o Continue to search for and apply for private scholarships (page 23). o December 15: The Consolidated Scholarship Application is available; all transfers are encouraged to apply (page 27). Spring o January 1: File a FAFSA at www.fafsa.gov (page 21). File in early January to qualify for need-based aid or by March 1 if you do not expect to receive need-based aid. o February 15: Deadline to apply for admission to MTSU and submit transcripts through fall 2013 to be considered for transfer scholarships. o February 15: Deadline to submit a Consolidated Scholarship Application to be considered for Transfer Diversity (page 9) and 2+2 Scholarships (page 8). Erica Doyle (Indianapolis, Ind.; transferred from Purdue University) Mass Communication 10 Scholarships for Spring-Start Transfer Students o February 15: Deadline to submit an Honors Transfer Fellowship application to the Honors College (page 9). o February 15: Deadline for most Foundation Scholarships and scholarships awarded through other MTSU departments. o March 1: Deadline to submit a Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship application (page 8). Priority consideration will be given to students who have submitted the above information and meet the minimum academic requirements as of October 1, 2014. Late applicants may be considered if funding is available. However, transfer scholarships are typically very competitive, and funding for late awards is generally not available. TBR Community College Academic Service Scholarship • For students transferring from and currently enrolled at a Tennessee community college • 30 awards of $1,500 per semester for 4 semesters • 3.0 GPA and 45–105 earned hours after Spring 2014 • No scholarship application required Non-TBR Academic Service Scholarship • For students transferring from a school other than a Tennessee community college • 5 awards of $1,500 per semester for 4 semesters • 3.5 GPA and 45–105 earned hours after spring 2014 • No scholarship application required Be sure to check out the “Things to Remember about MTSU Scholarships” section on page 19! Spring-Start Transfer Scholarship Checklist þ The information below assumes that you will enroll at MTSU after the fall semester of your third year of college. If your situation is different, you may need to adjust your timeline as appropriate. Freshman Year (or two years before transferring to MTSU) If you plan to complete a two-year degree and transfer to MTSU, do the following during your first year of college: All Year o Focus on earning high grades. A great start will help you reach your academic goals and qualify for more scholarships! o Take an average of 15 hours per semester. To qualify for most transfer scholarships, you will need at least 45 earned hours after the fall semester of your second year. Spring o Start searching and applying for private scholarship opportunities (page 23). Sophomore Year (or one year before transferring to MTSU) spring semester of this year in awarding transfer scholarships. Fall o Continue to search for and apply for private scholarships (page 23). Spring o January 1: File a FAFSA at www.fafsa.gov (page 24). File in early January to qualify for need-based aid or by March 1 if you do not expect to receive need-based aid. Be sure to list both your current school and MTSU! Third Year (the fall semester before transferring to MTSU) o October 1: Deadline to apply for admission to MTSU and submit transcripts through spring 2014 to be considered for transfer scholarships. o December 15: The Consolidated Scholarship Application for 2015–16 is available; all spring-start transfers are encouraged to apply (page 27). Remember to file a 2015–16 FAFSA in early January (page 24). All Year o Continue to focus on your grades. We will consider your GPA only through the 11 Scholarships for Current MTSU Students A current MTSU student is a student who is enrolled in at least 6 credit hours for the spring 2014 semester. Planning to return to MTSU in fall 2014 after a break? Check out our One-Semester Scholarship Application info on page 14. For more information, visit our Scholarships for Current Students website at mtsu.edu/scholarships/current.php. least 3.0 after the fall 2013 semester to be considered; however, scholarships may be competitive depending on available funding and the number of eligible applicants. Priority consideration may be given to students who are not receiving a Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship, but all eligible students are encouraged to apply. Award amounts and criteria may vary depending on available funding and the number of eligible applicants. Academic Scholarships for Current Students The following one-year scholarships are available to current MTSU students. To be considered, a student must submit an online Consolidated Scholarship Application by the February 15 deadline and must meet GPA requirements after the fall 2013 semester. Online applications must be submitted through ScholarX (https://mtsu.scholarships. ngwebsolutions.com) by February 15 for consideration. Enrichment Scholarships Enrichment Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement and are typically $1,000–$2,000 for one year. Award amounts will vary depending on academic achievement and level of financial need and will be prorated for part-time enrollment. Applicants must have a cumulative college GPA* of at 12 Diversity Scholarships MTSU offers two scholarships to encourage diversity among current MTSU students: • Vision Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement and diversity. • MT Diversity Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, diversity, and financial need. Awards are typically $1,000–$2,000 for one year. Award amounts will vary depending on academic achievement and level of financial need and will be prorated for part-time enrollment. Currently enrolled undergraduates must have a cumulative college GPA* of at least 2.5 after the fall 2013 semester, must file a FAFSA by March 1 (for the MT Diversity Scholarship only), and must meet diversity requirements (page 18). Priority consideration may be given to students who are not receiving a *The cumulative GPA used for scholarship considerations is listed as the Overall Combined GPA, near the bottom of the transcript in RaiderNet. Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship, but all eligible students are encouraged to apply. Award amounts and criteria may vary depending on available funding and the number of eligible applicants. Forgot to apply by the application deadline? Didn’t qualify until after the deadline? Check out the One-Semester Scholarship Application info on page 14! Be sure to read the “Things to Remember about MTSU Scholarships” section on page 19! Competitive Scholarships for Current MTSU Students The following scholarships require an application or other paperwork. Only one scholarship awarded by or funded through the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office can be received; students selected for multiple scholarships from the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office will be awarded the higher of the two. Students may receive a scholarship from the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office in addition to a scholarship from another MTSU department, in most cases. Foundation Scholarships See page 17 for information about Foundation Scholarships at MTSU. All current or reenrolling students are encouraged to apply for Foundation Scholarships awarded by the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office with our online Consolidated Scholarship Application. For more information about these and other Foundation Scholarships, visit www.mtsu.edu/scholarships/foundation_ scholarships.php. Other Scholarship Opportunities • See page 16 for information about departmental scholarships. • See page 23 for information about private scholarships. • See page 21 for information about lottery scholarships. (continued on page 14) Scholarship Checklist for Current MTSU Students þ All Year o Build your scholarship résumé. Keep good notes on your leadership roles and community involvement so that you can brag about yourself on your scholarship applications! Fall o Focus on your grades. Many scholarships will consider your cumulative GPA as of the end of this semester. o Start searching and applying for private scholarship opportunities (page 23). o Ask your academic department about scholarships available to students in your major or minor. o December 15: The Consolidated Scholarship Application is available; all current MTSU students are encouraged to apply (page 27). Spring o January 1: File a FAFSA at www.fafsa. gov (page 24). File in early January to qualify for need-based aid or by March 1 if you do not expect to receive needbased aid. o February 15: Deadline to submit a Consolidated Scholarship Application to be considered for academic (page 12) and Foundation (page 17) scholarships. o February 15: Deadline for most Foundation Scholarships and scholarships awarded through other MTSU departments. Lauren Taylor Aerospace 13 (continued from page 13) One-Semester Scholarship Application Forgot to apply for the Enrichment, Vision, and MT Diversity Scholarships by the application deadline? Didn’t qualify until after the deadline? Additional scholarships may be awarded at the midpoint of each term, if funds are available. One-Semester Scholarship Applications are available through the Scholarship Office website (www.mtsu.edu/scholarships) two weeks before each semester, with a priority deadline* at the end of the first full week of classes. If funding is available, one-semester scholarships are awarded mid-semester. Transfers, current MTSU students, and students reenrolling after a break must have a GPA of 3.0 to qualify for an Enrichment Scholarship; students with a GPA of 2.5 and diversity (see page 12) may be eligible for a Diversity Scholarship. First-semester freshmen may qualify for an Enrichment Scholarship with an ACT of 21 (or SAT of 980) AND a high school GPA of 3.0; freshmen may qualify for a Diversity Scholarship with an ACT of 21 (or SAT of 980) OR a high school GPA of 3.0. Please note that scholarships are generally competitive and most recipients have GPAs (and ACTs, if applicable) above the minimum requirements. The following chart shows what a typical semester’s One-Semester Scholarship Application dates may be. However, you should check the Scholarship Office website closer to the start of the term for updated information on application deadlines and expected response dates. Typical One-Semester Scholarship Application Dates Semester 1st Day to Apply Priority Deadline Decisions Sent Last Date to Apply* Fall August 15 August 31 October 15 November 1 Spring January 2 January 15 March 1 April 1 Summer May 1 May 15 June 30 June 1 * Availability of scholarships is dependent on funding; in most semesters, funds will not be available for applications submitted after the priority deadline 14 Scholarship Information for Nontraditional Students and Veterans For MTSU scholarship purposes, a nontraditional student is defined as a student who is at least 25 years old or who is younger but has significant adult responsibilities, including caring for a dependent child or parent. (Be aware that this is only MTSU’s definition. Definitions for other programs including the Lottery Scholarship will differ.) A veteran is defined as a person who has entered and served honorably in the United States armed forces on active duty, active National Guard, or active reserves. For more information, visit our website at mtsu.edu/scholarships/nontrad_ scholarships.php and the June Anderson Center for Women and Nontraditional Students (JACWNT) website at www.mtsu.edu/jac. Scholarships through the June Anderson Center • For new students or transfer students, the Osher Reentry Scholarship of $2,000–$4,000 is awarded by the June Anderson Center for Women and Nontraditional Students (JACWNT) to up to 15 nontraditional students who are incoming freshmen or transfer students and who have experienced a cumulative gap in their education of five or more years. Online applications are available through JACWNT beginning in mid-December and must be submitted by March 1. • For current students, the OWLs (Older Wiser Learners) organization, a student organization for adult learners, offers two types of academic scholarships and two types of Foundation Scholarships to currently enrolled students who are active OWLs members. These awards typically range from $1,000 for one year to $3,000 for four years. Learn more about the organization and the available scholarships on the JACWNT website. Applications must be submitted by March 1. Other MTSU Scholarship Opportunities • • See page 12 for information about scholarships for current and reenrolling students. See page 8 for information about transfer scholarships. • See page 17 for information about Foundation Scholarships and departmental scholarships. (continued on page 16) 15 (continued from page 15) Helping Heroes Grant (Veterans) A small grant is awarded by the State of Tennessee to veterans who have been awarded an Iraq Campaign Medal, an Afghanistan Campaign Medal, or a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (on or after 9/11/01) and who meet certain other requirements. The award is applied after the end of a semester, based on the number of credit hours successfully completed for that term. Visit the Scholarship Office website listed on page 15 for more info. Awards Available to Nontraditional and Veteran Tennessee Residents Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarships • Nontraditional Students • Students who are at least 25 when they begin college (or when they reenter college after a break of at least 2 years) may qualify for a Lottery Scholarship of $2,000 per semester. A student must meet residency, financial need, and academic requirements to qualify. Visit the Scholarship Office website listed on page 15 for more info. • Military Personnel and Family: The state allows certain exceptions for military personnel and their families in regard to the Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship program’s enrollment and residency rules. Visit the Scholarship Office website listed on page 15 for more info. Courtney Shaw (Memphis) Health Education major 16 Other Opportunities for Assistance Private Scholarships • See page 23 for helpful information on scholarships awarded by outside companies and organizations. College Goal Sunday • See page 24 for information about an opportunity to receive free assistance with filing the FAFSA (the application for federal aid, most types of state aid, and certain MTSU scholarships). Other Scholarship Opportunities at MTSU Foundation Scholarships MTSU academic and administrative departments offer approximately 700 endowed scholarships to hundreds of students each year. Application processes and deadlines vary; many scholarships require online applications or paper applications, while others are awarded based on academic achievement or other factors and do not require an application. Most application deadlines are on or before February 15, 2014. The Financial Aid and Scholarship Office awards approximately 70 of the Foundation Scholarships. Most of these awards require a Consolidated Scholarship Application, which is available online on December 15, 2013, and due by February 15, 2014. For more information about Foundation Scholarships, visit www.mtsu.edu/scholarships/foundation_scholarships.php. Information on the webpage includes • a link to and instructions for our scholarship search tool to find information about all scholarships, • a link to information about the scholarships awarded through the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office, and • a link to our application website, to apply for some types of Foundation Scholarships. Departmental Scholarships Several MTSU departments offer scholarships to students participating in certain courses or activities. Students may or may not be required to major in a particular area to qualify for such scholarships. Departments offering such scholarships include, but are not limited to, the following: • Music—Competitive music scholarships are awarded to both music and nonmusic majors for instrumental or • • • • vocal performance. Band scholarships are also available. For audition dates and requirements, visit www.mtsu.edu/ music/scholarships.php. ROTC—Awarded to ROTC program participants by the Military Science department. For more information, visit www.mtsu.edu/arotc1/scholarships_ MilitarySci.php or call (615) 898-2470. Athletic—Student-athlete scholarships at MTSU are awarded by the coaching staff of each particular sport. For more information, please visit www. GoBlueRaiders.com. June Anderson Center for Women and Nontraditional Students—See page 15 for information about scholarships awarded through the JACWNT to nontraditional students. Academic Departments—Some academic departments offer scholarships. For more information, please contact the academic department in which you will major or minor. Students are encouraged to contact departments of interest to ask about scholarship opportunities. 17 Additional Information about MTSU Scholarships Diversity Scholarship Information MTSU offers several Diversity Scholarships (including DREAM, Transfer Diversity, Vision, and MT Diversity). A student may qualify for a Diversity Scholarship by meeting one or more of the following areas of diversity (in addition to meeting other scholarship requirements as stated for each award type): • First-generation college students • Members of an underrepresented race or ethnicity • Veterans of the U.S. armed forces • Students who have overcome hardships which affected their ability to be successful in school • Nontraditional students • Students who have a disability • Students who have special gifts or talents related to their field of study Additional information about and/or a definition of each area of diversity is provided in the diversity section of the Consolidated Scholarship Application (page 27) and the One-Semester Scholarship Application (see page 14 for dates of availability). For more information about diversity scholarship types: Incoming freshmen: DREAM Scholarship—page 4 Incoming transfers: Transfer Diversity Scholarship—page 9 Current MTSU students: Vision and MT Diversity Scholarships—page 12 Constance Grieves (transferred from Nashville State) Political Science/pre-law 18 Things to Remember about MTSU Scholarships . . . Special Notes About Transfer Scholarships • Due to limited funding, transfer scholarships are limited to students who will complete an associate’s degree or equivalent level of coursework before transferring to MTSU but who have not completed the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree. Students with less than 45 or more than 105 earned hours at the time of scholarship considerations will not be considered for transfer scholarships. • The GPA for scholarship considerations will be calculated based on an institutional formula and may differ from the GPA listed on the transfer transcript. • Transfer scholarships are highly competitive. Students meeting the minimum criteria will be ranked by GPA and scholarship application responses (where applicable) within each scholarship type. Awards will be offered to top-ranked students to the extent that funding is available. • Academic scholarship notifications are typically sent in April; spring-start notifications are sent in late November. Special Notes About Freshman Scholarships • ACT and SAT scores generally must be received in the Admissions Office by January 15, 2014, for freshman scholarship consideration. • Freshman academic scholarships are guaranteed for any student who meets the admission and academic requirements as of the priority deadline. • Academic scholarship notifications are typically sent in November and April; spring-start notifications are sent in late November. General Information for All Scholarship Types Scholarship Consideration and Notification • All incoming freshmen and transfers who apply for admission by the priority deadline and meet the minimum requirements will be considered for academic scholarships (that is, scholarships based solely on ACT, GPA, and similar academic qualifications). No scholarship application is required for academic scholarships unless otherwise specified. • All incoming freshmen, incoming transfers, and current MTSU students are encouraged to apply for nonacademic scholarships. Most scholarships awarded through the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office require a Consolidated Scholarship Application (unless otherwise noted). • Only students who receive academic scholarships will be notified of their academic scholarship status. Award letters for freshman and transfer scholarships will be sent by postal mail and will include an agreement form that must be signed and returned. Award notifications for current student scholarships will be sent by email to the MTSU email account and will not require an agreement form. • All students who submit a Consolidated Scholarship Application will be notified (continued on page 20) 19 (continued from page 19) of their scholarship award status. Award letters may be sent by either postal mail or email, depending on scholarship type. Notifications to students who were not selected for an award will be sent by email to the MTSU email account. Scholarship Award and Renewal Details • Scholarships are granted for a maximum number of semesters, typically 8 for freshman-specific scholarships, 4 for transfer scholarships, and 2 for current student scholarships. Award length information will be included in the scholarship award packet. • Scholarships are not available during the summer term. (See the One-Semester Scholarship Application info on page 14 for one exception.) • Recipients of most freshman and transfer academic scholarships (except where noted) are required to complete 75 hours of service to MTSU each semester for most academic scholarships. Visit www.mtsu.edu/ scholarships/ssp_scholarships.php for more info. • Scholarships listed in the Competitive Scholarships section do not have a service requirement. • Recipients must meet GPA and enrollment requirements to maintain eligibility. • Recipients must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and must meet federal Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements. Scholarship Limitations • In the event that MTSU offers multiple scholarships to a student, only one awarded through or funded by the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office can be received. Certain scholarships (including the Buchanan Fellowship, Honors Transfer Fellowship, Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship, and OWLs Academic Service Scholarship) are awarded by other departments but funded through the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office and therefore cannot be combined with another scholarship through the same office. 20 • Except as noted above, a student may receive a scholarship from the MTSU Financial Aid and Scholarship Office in addition to scholarships from other MTSU departments, such as a scholarship from an academic department related to the student’s major. • A student may generally receive multiple scholarships from multiple sources, including a scholarship from the Scholarship Office, scholarships from other MTSU departments, a lottery scholarship, and private scholarships, except when a scholarship is specified as non-stackable. • A student’s total aid including scholarships cannot exceed his or her budgeted Cost of Attendance (COA). On rare occasions, a scholarship must be cancelled or reduced because a student has received aid in excess of the COA budget. You can view your COA budget through the Financial Aid tab in RaiderNet in the Status section. • The awarding of scholarships is based on the availability of funds and the criteria set forth by the appropriate governing bodies and is subject to change without notice. Nick Winchester (Smithville) Nursing Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship (TELS) Program Initial Eligibility • Tennessee residents with a 21 ACT OR 980 SAT (without writing test scores) OR 3.0 GPA at an eligible high school may qualify for a Lottery Scholarship of $2,000–$2,750 per semester. • Graduates of a homeschool* program or ineligible Tennessee high school (such as nonaccredited private schools*) may qualify with a 21 ACT or 980 SAT. • Nontraditional students* and GED graduates* may qualify through alternative methods. • For all lottery types, the student must submit a FAFSA as the scholarship application; see page 24 for more information. *Students in home school, ineligible high school, non-traditional, and GED categories should contact the Scholarship Office at lottery@mtsu.edu to request an eligibility review. Please note: The lottery GPA is calculated based on the state’s Uniform Grading Policy and may differ from the high school’s weighted or unweighted GPA. Most students will have a lottery GPA lower than the GPA listed on the high school transcript. We recommend that students check with the high school guidance office for information about the lottery GPA formula and that all students qualify with an ACT or SAT score to avoid GPA confusion. (continued on page 22) 21 (continued from page 21) If you believe you may be eligible for a Lottery Scholarship, please complete the following steps: o Inform your current school’s financial aid office so your Lottery Scholarship can be cancelled (if applicable). o If you did not list MTSU as the first school when you initially filed your 2014–2015 FAFSA, inform the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC)* of your plans to transfer. o Submit all required admission documents to the MTSU Admissions Office, including official high school transcripts and ACT/SAT scores. We are required to verify initial eligibility even if you have already received the scholarship at another school. o Submit an official full transcript (through your final semester at your previous school) to MTSU’s Admissions Office. o When you see all of your transfer hours showing on your MTSU transcript in RaiderNet, submit a TELS Transfer Form* to request that your account be reviewed. Jordan Hall (Gallatin) Electronic Media Communication Transferring a Lottery Scholarship Students currently receiving a Lottery Scholarship and expecting to transfer to MTSU may be eligible to receive the award at MTSU; students transferring from an out-of-state institution may qualify if they were initially eligible at the time of high school graduation. Initial and continuing eligibility must be verified before the award can be applied. * Visit www.mtsu.edu/scholarships/ telstransfer_scholarships.php for more information, including instructions on how to notify TSAC of your transfer and how to contact an MTSU lottery staff member. Visit www.tn.gov/CollegePays for more information about Lottery Scholarships and other state scholarship and grant programs. LOTTERY TIPS Expecting to receive a Lottery Scholarship but don’t see it listed on your account? Visit our Lottery Tips webpage for info on what might be wrong and how to fix it! www.mtsu.edu/scholarships/ telstips_scholarships.php 22 Private Scholarship Opportunities Millions of scholarships are offered by private companies, clubs, civic groups, and other organizations. These awards amount to billions of dollars in scholarship funds to American students each year! Visit our Private Scholarships website (https://mtsu.edu/scholarships/private_scholarships.php) for more information about scholarship opportunities. Finding Scholarships • Many scholarships are listed on free scholarship search websites. Registering with several of these websites will allow you to find the most scholarships. Visit the website listed above for links to several scholarship search websites as well as a few specific scholarships in which you may be interested. • Contact local businesses and organizations to ask about any scholarships they award. • Contact your employer or your parents’ employers to ask about any scholarships or tuition assistance programs they offer. Qualifying for Scholarships Criteria for private scholarships vary widely! • Some scholarships have academic requirements, such as certain ACT scores or GPAs. • Some scholarships have requirements related to the student’s major or future career goals. • Some scholarships have activity-based requirements, such as community service or participation in certain student organizations or types of activities. In your scholarship search, you’ll see many other types of criteria. Your best strategy is to get involved on your campus and in your community, take advantage of any leadership or community service opportunities, and keep good notes on what you did and when. Having a strong scholarship résumé will help you catch the attention of the judges. Visit the “Helpful Hints” section of the website listed above for more great ideas! I got one! What now? Congratulations! Visit the “Requesting” and “Submitting” sections of the website listed above for information about what to do next, including • how to submit the scholarship check to us and what information to include with it, • how to request information from us if the scholarship donor needs more info about your account, and • what to do if the scholarship funds won’t arrive until after the start of the semester. Beware of Scams! If someone asks you to pay for scholarship information or to submit a scholarship application fee, just say no! Free information is available through other sources, such as a high school guidance office or the website listed above. 23 FAFSA INFORMATION Retaining Eligibility for Scholarships The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the federal application for grants, loans, and other programs available through the federal government. However, the FAFSA is also used in determining eligibility for most state aid programs and many MTSU scholarships. After working so hard to earn scholarships and other aid, you’ll want to make sure you keep them! When to File the FAFSA • The FAFSA is available on January 1 each year for the upcoming academic year. • You should file the FAFSA as soon after January 1 as possible, especially if you are a Tennessee resident and expect to receive need-based aid. (Certain programs have extremely limited funding.) • You should file the FAFSA no later than March 1 even if you do not expect to receive need-based aid. • March 1 is the deadline for most need-based scholarships at MTSU. How to File the FAFSA • The FAFSA is completed online at www.fafsa.gov. • The 2014–15 FAFSA will be available January 1, 2014. You will use your 2013 tax information on this FAFSA. • Use estimated income information to file your FAFSA before you complete your tax return. You will probably need to submit verification paperwork to MTSU later, but the hassle of a little extra paperwork is worth being considered for as much need-based aid as possible! College Goal Tennessee: An Opportunity for Assistance Are you an incoming freshman who needs some help filing your first FAFSA? Are you a nontraditional student who needs assistance filing the FAFSA for your first year back at school? College Goal Tennessee is a statewide event at which you can receive free assistance with applying for aid! 24 If you’re near MTSU, visit our website (www.mtsu.edu/financialaid/cgs.php) on December 1, 2013, for information about MTSU’s free College Goal Tennessee event and to register. Not in the Murfreesboro area? Visit the state’s website (www.tn.gov/ collegegoalsunday) on December 1, 2013, to learn about College Goal Tennessee events in your area including dates and times, what to bring, and how to register. Jacki Lancaster (Pulaski) Graduate Student Administration and Supervision Higher Education Meeting Federal Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements Any student receiving financial aid must meet federal Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements. These requirements apply to almost all types of aid including federal grants and loans, state aid such as the TSAA Grant and the Lottery Scholarship, and most MTSU scholarships. Therefore, it’s important that every student meet these requirements! How can I keep my federal and other aid? • GPA: Your GPA must meet the minimums established by the University as indicated in the Undergraduate Catalog. • Completion Rate: You must pass at least 67% of all attempted hours. Failure to meet this requirement will result in a Financial Aid Warning, followed by suspension and the loss of your aid (including scholarships) for one or more terms if you do not raise your passing rate to the required level. • Time Limits: You may attempt up to 150% of the hours required for your degree program as stated in the Undergraduate Catalog. Generally, this means you will not receive aid after you have attempted 180 hours. • Notification: You can view your SAP status through the Financial Aid tab in RaiderNet in the Eligibility section. For some types of ineligibility factors, you will also be notified of your status through your MTSU email address. Please note that the above information is specific to undergraduate students; GPA requirements and time limits differ for graduate students. If I lose my financial aid, can I get it back? • You may appeal if you didn’t meet the completion rate requirement because of extenuating circumstances. Visit www.mtsu.edu/financialaid/ SAPAppeal.php for more information. You may be able to receive an extension on the time limit in certain situations. Please contact your Financial Aid counselor for additional information. Meeting Lottery Scholarship Requirements How can I keep my Lottery Scholarship? • Aim for a 3.0 TELS GPA and maintain it! We’ll check your GPA after 24 attempted hours then again every 24 hours after that (48, 72, 96, etc.) Remember that the lottery GPA formula is different than MTSU’s GPA formula, and your lottery GPA may be lower than your MTSU GPA. • Enroll in at least one class every fall and spring semester; don’t skip any semesters except summer. (But you must enroll in at least 6 hours to receive a scholarship for that semester.) • Be careful about dropping classes. Don’t drop a class if it will cause you to fall below 12 hours for the semester. If you (continued on page 26) 25 (continued from page 25) started the semester in part-time status (6 to 11 hours), don’t drop a class if it will cause you to fall below 6 hours that semester. • Watch your calendar! You can receive the scholarship for only five years after you start college (or until you complete your first degree). • You will be limited to 120 TELS attempted hours. Be careful to take only the classes you need and to plan your class schedule carefully as you approach the limit. • Check your lottery GPA, attempted hours, and other stats (available through the Financial Aid tab in RaiderNet) frequently to know how you’re doing. If I lose my Lottery Scholarship, can I get it back? • You may be able to appeal if you lost your Lottery Scholarship because you didn’t meet the enrollment requirements due to extenuating circumstances. • You may be able to regain eligibility later by raising your GPA at a future 24-hour bracket if you lost your scholarship because you didn’t meet the GPA requirements. • You can use your one-time-only Repeat Option to help you reach the GPA requirement. • You can find more information about both appealing and regaining eligibility at the sites below. Where can I find more detailed information? • Visit www.mtsu.edu/scholarships/ telsprogram_scholarships.php for an explanation of the rules. • Visit www.tn.gov/collegepays for information about the state’s rules and policies. Meeting MTSU Scholarship Requirements Any student receiving a renewable academic or endowed scholarship from MTSU must meet continuing eligibility requirements. Your scholarship award 26 letter will include information about requirements to retain the scholarship. How can I keep my MTSU scholarship? • GPA. Most scholarships require a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0; some may require a higher GPA. Aim for a 3.5 to give yourself plenty of cushion! If you drop below the GPA requirement, you may be able to regain eligibility by bringing your GPA back up. • Enrollment. Most scholarships require full-time enrollment. If you will not enroll in at least 12 hours or if you must withdraw for a semester, discuss your situation with the department that offered the scholarship before making any changes to your enrollment. • Service. Certain academic scholarships include a 75-hour-per-semester service requirement. If you are unable to complete the service hours due to extenuating circumstances, contact the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office to discuss your situation. You may qualify for a service waiver if you are enrolled in certain types of classes. Visit www.mtsu.edu/scholarships/ssp_ scholarships.php for more information. • Time Limits. Most scholarships are limited to four or eight semesters. Review your scholarship award letter to determine how long you can receive the scholarship. When you approach that limit, be sure to look for other scholarships to replace the award. If I lose my scholarship, can I get it back? You may be able to appeal if you lost your scholarship because you didn’t meet continuing eligibility requirements. • For scholarships awarded by the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office, visit www.mtsu.edu/scholarships/ Appeals.php for information about appeal options. • For scholarships awarded by other MTSU departments, contact the awarding department to ask whether an appeal process is offered. ScholarX Scholarship Manager MTSU’s ScholarX Scholarship Manager allows students to search for Foundation Scholarships and to apply for certain scholarships through an online application. Visit ScholarX at https://mtsu.scholarships.ngwebsolutions.com. Search for MTSU Foundation Scholarships • Go to ScholarX, at https://mtsu. scholarships.ngwebsolutions.com. • Click on Search Scholarships. • Click on the + sign by Category Search, if you want to look for scholarships that match certain characteristics. • Click on the + sign by the desired category to expand the list of choices. • Click on the choice you wish to search, or hold the Control key to choose multiple items. • We recommend that you search for scholarships awarded by your academic department (based on your major) as well as scholarships awarded by the Financial Aid & Scholarship Office. • You may alternately click on the + sign by Description and Name Search, to search for a scholarship with a particular word in the name or description. • Do not click on Keyword(s) Search, as MTSU does not use this search option. • When you have selected your desired parameter(s), click on Search at the bottom to view your results. • Each scholarship description will include instructions on how to apply and/or who to contact for additional information. • Want to see all scholarships that are listed? Click on View All instead of Search! Apply for Scholarships • If a scholarship listing in the search tool (above) indicates that the scholarship has an online application through ScholarX, click the link to return to the ScholarX homepage. • In the “Apply for Scholarships” section, click on the applicable link to create an account (for new users) or log in (for returning users). • After logging in, look through the list of scholarship applications to find the one you wish to complete. • (Can’t find the application you need? Check again later! Most applications are posted in late fall or early spring.) • Click on Start Application. • Fill out the information on the application. • Need to take a break? Just click on “Save and continue” to save your work. Log out for your privacy; then log back in when you are ready to continue. • Click on “Review Answers” and carefully check your responses. (continued on page 28) 27 (continued from page 27) To submit a Consolidated Scholarship Application, follow the instructions in the Apply for Scholarships section above. The application will be available on December 15, 2013, and must be submitted by February 15, 2014. Prisilla Ramirez (Los Angeles) Social Work • Click on “Submit” to complete and submit your application. • Watch for a confirmation email, letting you know that the application was submitted. Consolidated Scholarship Application MTSU’s Consolidated Scholarship Application is used to select recipients for most competitive scholarships awarded through the Financial Aid & Scholarship Office, including the following: • DREAM Scholarship (page 4) • Transfer Diversity Scholarship (page 9) • 2+2 Scholarship (page 8) • Enrichment Scholarship (page 12) • Vision & MT Diversity Scholarships (page 12) • Most Foundation Scholarships awarded through the Scholarship Office (page 17) 28 MTSU Scholarship Office James Union Building, room 206 Hours: M–F, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. MTSU Box 31 1301 E Main St. Murfreesboro, TN 37132 Fax: 615-494-7770 www.mtsu.edu/scholarships Click on “Contact Info” for staff contact information. 0613-0114 - Middle Tennessee State University is an AA/EEO employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies: Executive Director of Institutional Equity and Compliance, 1301 E. Main Street, CAB 220, Murfreesboro, TN 37132, 615-898-2185. The MTSU Title IX coordinator, designated to monitor and oversee Title IX complaints, may be contacted at Sam Ingram Building, 2269 Middle Tennessee Blvd., Murfreesboro, TN 37132, 615-898-5133, or via this webpage: www.mtsu.edu/titleix/.